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Worshipping at the "Throne of Pornography"

When you are to resist a temptation, or to mortify a corruption--do not go out in your own strength, but in the strength of Christ. Some go out to duty in the strength of their abilities; and go out against sin in the strength of their resolutions--and they both come home foiled. Alas! What are our resolutions, but like the green cords which bound Samson! A sinful heart will soon break these!Do as David when he was to go up against Goliath. He said, "I come to you in the name of the Lord!" So say to your Goliath lust, "I come to you in the name of Christ!" Then we conquer, when the Lion of the tribe of Judah marches before us!Thomas WatsonSo men: You think that pornography is a battle? You do? O really? Okay, then take the words of Thomas Watson to heart and every time you feel tempted to click that mouse, say, "Hello pornography--I come to you in the name of Christ." I guess that makes it pretty clear that pornography is not a battle--it is an idol. You bring Christ into your battles. You do not invite Christ to join you as you worship an idol.

Pornography addiction is not a "struggle" or a "battle". Pornography is an idol! Call it what it is!

I heard a radio show today on a Christian station stating that over 50% of men sitting in the pews of the churches across America are addicted to pornography and how even Pastors have admitted (some estimate over 30%) to be “struggling" with a habitual habit of viewing pornography. This was not NEW News to me. But, it did spark this post.

We make choices and decisions everyday! Think about this.

Why do you choose to put our foot on the break and come to a stop at a red light? Is anyone forcing you to do so? NO. It is your knowledge of the consequences of not doing so, that motivate your decision. You know that there may be consequences should you make a different choice. On the one hand, you might be pulled over and issued a ticket—(a financial consequence). Or, you may be hit and injured; or killed, by someone crossing the intersection at full speed—(a physical consequence).

Basically, you make the choice to put your foot on the break, not because you are a law abiding citizen; but because you do not want to suffer negative consequences of doing otherwise. In fact, you are more motivated by a desire to not be injured than you are by a desire to not injure someone else. Our choices and decisions are primarily based on sparing ourselves temporal consequences (either financial or physical).

The knowledge of potential, temporal, negative, consequences is one of the highest motivating factors in all of the decisions and choices we make everyday.

Would we call someone who habitually runs a red light, “weak”? Would we say he was simply struggling with the flesh? Would we suggest an accountability group for him in order to pray for him as he struggles with this “weakness”? I think not! We would think him a reckless, fool.

Why? I will tell you why. Because, the awareness of temporal consequences and the desire to avoid those consequences is what motivates us to make the choices that we make and we seem to have little struggle in making those kinds of choices. We seem to be quit able to abide by the law when doing otherwise may cost us something, temporally.

However, when the possibility of temporal negative consequences are diminished or removed, or we can do things in secret, we all of a sudden take a different view on our ability to make the right choices. Don’t we? We all of a sudden, talk about how powerless we are. How weak we are.

Will anyone issue you a ticket when you decide to click that mouse button to view a pornographic website? No. Will you run the risk of sustaining physical injury or potential death by driving through that intersection? No.

Man or Woman / Husband or Wife—Did you ever think about simply saying “You either get me or you get pornography. You don’t get both”. Period! Is this unreasonable? Is this out of line? Is this cruel and insensitive? Is this unforgiving? I think not!

I am so tired of (and frankly disgusted by) the way in which the Christian community is “handling” this topic. Pastors who publicly confess their “addiction” are now praised as being humble, brave, heroes of the faith. Accountability groups, seminars, conferences, books, etc. and yet the problem continues to grow.

To pray "Lead us not into temptation," and then sit down at the computer and click the mouse, is like one who should put his finger into the candle, and yet pray that it may not be burnt!

I can hear all the arguments now: “You don’t understand. It’s an addiction. I want to stop, but no matter how hard I try, I can’t”. While it is true, that we do not always have control over our thoughts, we do have control over our computer mouse and our remote control and what types of magazines, DVD’s and books we buy. Some things (such as thoughts) can simply happen—while other things require decisions, choices, and actions.

Ask yourself this: Would you steal just a little bit each month from your mother’s bank account (not enough to really hurt her financially), if you could do so in secret and think that you would never get caught? And then, if/when caught say, “It’s just a weakness—I can’t seem to control myself—but, that doesn’t mean I don’t love you, mother”.

No one can make anyone view pornography against their will. They make a choice followed by an action; and, if they choose to betray their marital vows and view pornography then they are simply proving that they love their own twisted sinful desire for perverted; dehumanizing; defiling; vow forsaking; sexual pleasure over their love for the Lord and their “love” for their wife/husband. It is that simple. If you are not married, you choose to get your sexual pleasure by viewing someone else's daughter and using her stupidity and ignorance to get aroused and pleasured while Christ is watching you.

You do not view pornography because you are weak. You view pornography because you like it! You view pornography because you are self-centered. You view pornography because it is one area where you can indulge your lusts without: 1) the risk of impregnating anyone or getting a sexually transmitted decease; 2) having to romance anyone to get your sexual needs met; 3) having to deal with the emotional baggage of a real relationship; 4) having to sacrifice a single thing for anyone else. You view it because you can and because you want to.

I repeat—you view pornography—not because you are weak. You view pornography because you like it; and you like it more than you care about what God thinks; you like it more than you care about the “love” you think you have for your spouse or for the Lord. You are choosing it, (whether you acknowledge that or not), over the love of your spouse and the love you profess to have for God, every single time you click that mouse. Each and every time you make that conscious decision to view it; you are saying, “I love pornography more than God and more than you wife/husband and family”. Acknowledge that reality! Stop deceiving yourself!

It is not a “weakness” my friend—anymore than robbing a bank is a “weakness”. It is you desiring (and probably even coupled with you thinking you deserve) an unlimited number of nameless “safe” concubines that require nothing from you; while thinking you still deserve the love and faithfulness of a godly woman or man without consequence.

Men! Women! Take a stand. Make the terms of engagement clear and adhere to them: “You either get me or you get pornography—you don’t get both!” Our Christian community is making hero's out of men and women who "stand by their spouse". Is not Christ sufficient! Let God deal with them. You really think they can make love to you and cherish you while addicted to pornography? Get real!“Sin is the dare of God's justice, the rape of His mercy, the jeer of His patience, the slight of His power, and the contempt of His love.”

Bunyan, John

It is not having a wife—but loving a wife— which makes a man live chastely. He who loves his wife, whom Solomon calls his fountain, will not go abroad to drink of muddy, poisoned waters. Pure marital love is a gift of God, and comes from heaven; but, like the vestal fire, it must be nourished, so that it does not go out. He who does not love his wife, is the likeliest person to embrace the bosom of a harlot.

“My Struggle, Your Struggle”? Here is the truth. You can cloak this in anything you like, but the truth is that you are worshipping at the “Throne of Pornography” because you like it. You like it better than Christ and you like it better than your wife or your family. Pornography is your idol. You spend (and desire to spend) more time in front of the computer viewing pornographic images than you do in the Word of God and in prayer. You choose it over God, your wife and your children.

That is the truth. Do I have compassion for you? Yes. Is there hope? Yes. But no accountability group will help you. Next time you desire to get your daily dose of pornography, simply tell Christ, “Pull up a seat Lord and let’s enjoy ourselves together, shall we?”

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